Hoop propelling device

ABSTRACT

Hoop propelling trundle comprising a handle with a normally closed loop on one end thereof having relatively spreadable resilient legs for forming an opening through which a hoop may be passed to secure it to or detach it from the loop. A bight is provided for engaging the hoop for propelling it and another bight or hook is provided for arresting its rolling motion. In one species, the two bights lie in the same plane and in another species they lie in angularly related planes. A slidable clip on the handle secures the hoop thereto with the handle disposed substantially in the plane of the hoop.

limited States Phillips, .1 r.

atent 1 [111 3,827,180 1 Aug. 6, 1974 1 HOOP PROPELLING DEVICE [22] Filed: Dec. 10, 1973 [2]] App]. No.: 423,463

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 218,777, Jan. 18, 1972,

3/1939 Heath 46/220 Primary Examiner-Antonio F. Guida Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Cutting Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Victor C. Muller [57] ABSTRACT Hoop propelling trundle comprising a handle with a normally closed loop on one end thereof having relatively spreadable resilient legs for forming an opening through which a hoop may be passed to secure it to or detach it from the loop. A bight is provided for engaging the hoop for propelling it and another bight or hook is provided for arresting its rolling motion. In one species, the two bights lie in the same plane and in another species they lie in angularly related planes. A slidable clip on the handle secures the hoop thereto with the handle disposed substantially in the plane of the hoop.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures HOOP PROPELLING DEVICE This is a continuation of application SR. No. 218.777 filed Jan. 18, 1972, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The origin of the sport or amusement of rollinghoops along the ground, particularly by children, is somewhat obscure and hence only conjectural but possibly originated with the discovery that a rolling hoop tends to remain erect. Probably the hand of the operator was first used to propel the hoop by periodically applying a force thereto while walking or running behind the rolling hoop. The use of a hand-held stick probably followed this early concept. It was early recognized, however, that difficulty was experienced in properly guiding a hoop with a plain stick and numerous improvements were devised to overcome this difficulty. In its most simple form, a simple open U-shaped member was possibly added to the end of the stick which provided directional control lateral to the plane of the hoop as well as the propelling force in its plane, thus providing means for steering the hoop along a desired path. A myriad of refinements of this simple form followed over many years and further refinements continue to be made in this fascinating form of amusement, skill and exercise.

One of the refinements was to construct the propelling end of the stick so that it captured the hoop against unauthorized separation but could be detached from the hoop when desired. The patent to Heath 2,149,960 discloses one example of the various devices embodying this concept in this now highly developed art. It also exemplifies the concept that simplicity of construction, with its attendant economy of manufacture, is an important consideration to practicability and successful marketing of a device of this type.

Another refinement, as exemplified by the patent to Land 2,970,403, involves the concept of providing guidance control to the hoop. While such devices are beneficial to beginners in the art, they tend to detract from the development of skill. The more primitive types, accordingly, which require directional control by the skill of the operator, as distinguished from those which have aids to guidance, are believed to be of the preferred type since the development of the skill presents a continual challenge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one embodiment of the invention, an elongated generally rectangular loop is provided, the bight at one end of which is employed for propelling a hoop and the bight at the other end of which is employed to arrest rolling motion of the hoop. The latter bight, which is disposed at the forward end of the loop is formed of relatively spreadable portions whichform tapered mouths through which a hoop may pass to spread the legs to permit attachment of the hoop to the loop or detachment therefrom by a pushing or pulling motion, respectively, of the loop relative to the hoop.

In another embodiment of the invention, two loops are provided, one for propelling the hoop and the other for arresting its forward motion. In this embodiment, the hoop is attached to the loops by a pushing motion, as in the other embodiment, but may be detached therefrom by either a pushing or pulling motion of the loops relative to the hoop.

Both embodiments employ a slidable clip on the handle for securing the hoop thereto, whereby hoops of various diameters may be employed with the same trundle device.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a hoop propelling trundle constructed and operable in accordance with the foregoing.

Further objects, advantages and salient features will become more apparent from the detailed description to follow, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawing to now be briefly described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective of one form of the invention with the parts in operative position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation illustrating the parts in a position for stowing or transporting;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan of a detail as viewed in the direction of arrow 3, FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a like detail in another position of the parts;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective of an alternative form of the invention; and

FIG. 6 illustrates the manner of attaching and detaching the FIG. 5 device to and from a hoop.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing, and first to FIGS. 1 to 4, the subject of the invention comprises a trundle 10 having a handle 12 to one end of which a normally closed loop member 14 is affixed for propelling and arresting a rolling hoop 16, which, as so far described, is conventional and well known.

Loop member 14, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A, comprises a pair of spaced legs 18,20 integrally joined together at their rear ends by an inwardly concave bight 22. Bight 24, at the forward end of loop, is formed of two like inwardly concave hooks 26,28 which are resiliently urged into abutting relation and so shaped to form a tapered hoop entry mouth 30 and a similar hoop exit mouth 32. When member 14 is pushed toward hoop 16, as indicated by arrow 34, hook portions 26,28 of bight 24 spread apart, as best shown in FIG. 3A, permitting the hoop to enter the loop. As will be apparent, when it is desired to detach the hoop from the loop, the hoop enters exit mouth 32 and passes between hooks 26,28 back to the position shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 also illustrates the propelling poisition 16a of the hoop and an arresting position 16b thereof. As will be apparent, the hoop may be arrested by either of hooks 26 or 28.

Handle 12 may optionally be provided with a hoop securing device 36 comprising, as best shown in FIG. 4, a sleeve or tube 38 which is slidable along and rotatable on handle 12. A resilient clip 40 is secured to the sleeve which is provided with an opening 42 of a width less than the hoop cross sectional diameter. When it is desired to capture the hoop within the clip, the clip and hoop are moved relatively, camming the ends of the opening apart and permitting the hoop to enter into the clip. Reverse movement disengages the hoop from the clip as will be apparent.

FIG. 2 illustrates the position of the parts when the hoop is secured to the clip, the hoop and handle being disposed in a substantial plane whereby they may be hung on a wall by a hook 44, passing through a loop 46 on a cap 48 secured to the upper end of the handle.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, handle 12a is the same as in FIGS. 1-4, employing the clip and hanging cap as previously described, but differing therefrom by the shape of loop 14a. The analogy between this form of the invention and that of FIGS. 1 to 3A may be best visualized by providing about a 90 downward bend in legs 18,20 of FIG. 3 so that bight 22 is disposed as illustrated at 22a of FIG. 5. Two part bight 26,28 of FIG. 3, forming bight 24, is formed as single bight 24a of FIG. 5, and handle 12a is relocated at a locus remote from bight 22 or 22a. Also, hoop entry mouth 30a is relocated at a locus remote from bight 24a. As will be apparent, this embodiment comprises two U-shaped members connected together by a common leg 20a with the planes of the two U-shaped members disposed in angular relationship. The free end of leg 18a resiliently abuts an adjacent leg at its point of crossing and is curved outwardly to lie beneath or slightly outward of handle portion 12a. In attaching this device to the hoop, the hoop is disposed in mouth 30a and the loop member is pushed toward the hoop which passes along free end 18a and into the loop member. This motion is illustrated at the right side of FIG. 6. When the loop member is moved to the other side of the hoop, as illustrated at the left side of FIG. 6, the hoop again engages mouth 30a and a continued push disconnects the loop from the hoop. Alternatively the loop may be disengaged from the hoop by moving the loop to the top of the hoop and engaging the hoop between free leg 18a and leg 12a and moving the loop radially inwardly of the hoop.

The loops of either embodiment may be formed of wire or plastic rod which may be softened by heat and bent to desired shape, after which it resumes its former resilience. The handle may also be formed of wire or plastic tubing, the loop being secured to the handle by a weld or cement, depending upon the choice of materials.

In both embodiments the propelling bight preferably engages the hoop to a point about 45 (or less) below the horizontal diameter of the hoop, that is, about midway of the second quadrant of the hoop. With reference again to FIG. 3, guidance of the hoop is effected by angularly orienting the handle relative to the plane of the hoop so that the line of contact with the bight 22 moves to various positions thereon. As will be apparent, the space between legs 18,20 is considerably in excess of the hoop cross sectional diameter so that they do not contact the hoop to guide it, thus requiring greater skill in operating the device, as compared to those which employ spaced loop legs which guide the hoop.

What I claim is:

1. In a hoop propelling trundle of the type having an elongated handle adapted to be grasped by a hand of an operator moving in a forward direction along a path rearwardly of the hoop, said handle having a hoop engaging member at its forward end, formed of resilient material, such as plastic or metallic rod, bent into a shape to form first and second u-shaped portions, the planes of which are disposed in angular relationship, the first u-shaped portion having a first bight for arresting forward movement of the hoop and the second ushaped portion having a like second bight for forwardly propelling the hoop, the improvements, in combination, comprising;

a. Said planes being so related that the first bight is disposed at the forward end of the member and the second bight is disposed rearwardly and below the first bight when the member is normally disposed in the second quadrant relative to the hoop,

b. the first u-shaped portion having a free end portion forming one leg thereof crossing adjacent one leg of the second u-shaped portion and adapted to be sprung away to form an opening through which the hoop may pass, the construction and arrangement being such that the legs, at the locus of crossing, form a camming mouth for spreading the crossing legs apart when the member is pushed in a direction in the plane of the hoop in the second quadrant thereof, the camming mouth also adapted to spread the crossing legs apart when the member is pushed in the same plane and in the third quadrant of the hoop, whereby the member may be attached or detached from the hoop by the same direction of its movement in the plane of the hoop,

d. the legs of the first u-shaped portion being joined by the second bight, forming a curved propelling bight integral with the legs and hence devoid of an opening adjacent thereto through which the hoop may pass.

2. A trundle in accordance with claim 1 including a hoop securing device disposed on the handle, said device having a resilient clip member thereon with an opening therein of a width less than the hoop cross section, said opening adapted to be enlarged to permit the hoop to pass therethrough and secure the hoop within the clip member, said hoop securing device being slidable along the handle, whereby hoops of different diameters, disposed within the loop member, may be secured to the handle.

3. A trundle in accordance with claim 2 including an aperture at the upper end of the handle adapted to engage a hook or the like for hanging the handle and hoop therefrom.

4. A trundle in accordance with claim 1 wherein said angular relationship is about 

1. In a hoop propelling trundle of the type having an elongated handle adapted to be grasped by a hand of an operator moving in a forward direction along a path rearwardly of the hoop, said handle having a hoop engaging member at its forward end, formed of resilient material, such as plastic or metallic rod, bent into a shape to form first and second u-shaped portions, the planes of which are disposed in angular relationship, the first u-shaped portion having a first bight for arresting forward movement of the hoop and the second u-shaped portion having a like second bight for forwardly propelling the hoop, the improvements, in combination, comprising; a. Said planes being so related that the first bight is disposed at the forward end of the member and the second bight is disposed rearwardly and below the first bight when the member is normally disposed in the second quadrant relative to the hoop, b. the first u-shaped portion having a free end portion forming one leg thereof crossing adjacent one leg of the second ushaped portion and adapted to be sprung away to form an opening through which the hoop may pass, c. the construction and arrangement being such that the legs, at the locus of crossing, form a camming mouth for spreading the crossing legs apart when the member is pushed in a direction in the plane of the hoop in the second quadrant thereof, the camming mouth also adapted to spread the crossing legs apart when the member is pushed in the same plane and in the third quadrant of the hoop, whereby the member may be attached or detached from the hoop by the same direction of its mOvement in the plane of the hoop, d. the legs of the first u-shaped portion being joined by the second bight, forming a curved propelling bight integral with the legs and hence devoid of an opening adjacent thereto through which the hoop may pass.
 2. A trundle in accordance with claim 1 including a hoop securing device disposed on the handle, said device having a resilient clip member thereon with an opening therein of a width less than the hoop cross section, said opening adapted to be enlarged to permit the hoop to pass therethrough and secure the hoop within the clip member, said hoop securing device being slidable along the handle, whereby hoops of different diameters, disposed within the loop member, may be secured to the handle.
 3. A trundle in accordance with claim 2 including an aperture at the upper end of the handle adapted to engage a hook or the like for hanging the handle and hoop therefrom.
 4. A trundle in accordance with claim 1 wherein said angular relationship is about 90*. 